Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Bluenose II made waves at ports throughout Quebec, Ontario and the northern US in 2019, with more than 100,000 visitors crossing the decks. The successful tour helped raise awareness of Nova Scotia and our marine heritage.
Nova Scotia’s sailing ambassador, along with the Picton Castle, participated in the Tall Ships Challenge Great Lakes from June 15 to September 11, making stops in 15 ports, including 10 Tall Ships Festivals and eight parades of sail.
In addition to welcoming guests at the ports, media articles featuring Bluenose II had a total reach of almost 222 million. Having a symbolic Nova Scotia icon like Bluenose II making headlines in our key markets is great exposure for Nova Scotia.
"Taking the Bluenose II to The Great Lakes in 2019 was a great opportunity for the crew to share our unique maritime culture and a Canadian icon with the heartland of North America,” says Phil Watson, captain of Bluenose II. “With over 100 media appearances, 100,000 visitors on deck and millions of social media views, the ship and crew were able to spread the Bluenose story and promote Nova Scotia as a unique vacation destination."
The tour helped double the ship’s following on Instagram and grow its Facebook followers by 25%. Social Media praise for the ship included this comment from Don Sullivan, who visited the ship in Cleveland, Ohio: “The crew answered questions and showed us their pride and joy. I was truly impressed by all of it. I highly recommend a visit onboard and am considering a visit to their home port.”
At each port, a mobile exhibit was set up alongside Bluenose II sharing history and facts about the vessel. The more than 39,000 visitors to the exhibit were greeted with a sign showcasing other Nova Scotia icons like Peggy’s Cove and the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and encouraged to visit NovaScotia.com to plan a trip to Nova Scotia. In addition, the mobile exhibit was towed to each port by a Nova Scotia.com/Bluenose II co-branded truck.
“People were engaged with the ship, wanting to learn its history and know more about Nova Scotia,” says Emily Sollows, Communications and Assistant Operations for Bluenose II. “We've already seen people in Lunenburg and Halifax in September who visited the ship in the Great Lakes earlier in the summer. We expect this trend to continue in following seasons as many people expressed sincere interest in visiting Nova Scotia. The ship is not only an attraction and ambassador, but a tangible connection to our history and a point of pride for Nova Scotians."
Upon the ship’s return to Nova Scotia in September, Bluenose II hosted 2,618 passengers on 43 cruises in Halifax and Lunenburg.
Visitors will be able to experience the Bluenose II here in Nova Scotia again in 2020. In 2021, big celebrations are being planned for the 100th anniversary of the original Bluenose, including a province-wide tour.
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